Port Ellen - 21 Year Old (1982) Old Malt Cask

Port Ellen 21 Year Old (1982) Old Malt Cask is a highly desirable independent bottling from one of Islay’s most storied names. Distilled in 1982 and bottled in May 2004 by Douglas Laing for the Old Malt Cask range, it’s a single cask release at 50% ABV with an outturn of just 420 bottles. Whether buyers think of Port Ellen as the legendary closed-era distillery (1983 closure) or the newly revived site (reopened March 2024), mature Port Ellen from the early 1980s remains firmly in “serious collector” territory.

Key Details
- Distillery: Port Ellen
- Region: Islay, Scotland
- Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Bottler: Douglas Laing
- Series: Old Malt Cask
- Vintage/Distilled: 1982
- Bottled: May 2004
- Age: 21 Year Old
- Cask Type: Single cask (cask type not stated)
- ABV: 50%
- Bottle Size: 70cl
- Outturn: 420 bottles
- Country of Origin: Scotland

Tasting Notes (typical profile for mature Port Ellen, OMC style)
Nose: Coastal peat smoke, lemon oil and sea spray, with a lightly medicinal edge and hints of wax/polish.
Palate: Firm and smoky with brine, citrus peel and peppery spice, moving into earthy/mineral notes and drying oak.
Finish: Long, salty and ashy, with lingering citrus, soot and gentle oak tannin.

Why This Bottle Is Worth Bidding On
- Single cask Port Ellen with a small outturn (420 bottles) from a respected long-running independent series.
- 1982 is a sought-after late-production vintage, close to the distillery’s 1983 closure, which adds to the historical pull.
- Bottled at 50%: a sweet spot for drinkers who want intensity without full cask-strength heat, while still keeping collector credibility.